Wire-clamp.



PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

WITNESSES.-

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UNITED STAT S F CE OLIVER E. LEWIS, or ULYSSES; NEBRASKA, Ass GNoR or QNE-HALFTO JOSEPH B. smrsoN, A or WASHINGTON, ms'rnro'r OFZCOYLUMBIA. I q

, WIRE-CLAMP. 4

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To all whom it may Be it known that I, OLIVER E. Lawrs, a citizen of H the United States, residing at'Ulysses, in the county of Butler and State of N ebraska, have invented a' newand useful Wire-Clamp, of w'hichthe following is a specification. a j

This invention relates to' clamps or couplings for uniting electric conductors, and has for its object to provide means for connecting the local wireof a telephone, telegraph or other electrical instrument with the main line wire.

A further object of the' invention is to provide a clamp having a plurality of spaced arms or lugs di's-.

posed in staggered relation and adapted-to receive the local and main line wires for clamping the same in electrical contact with each other.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clamp capable of being readily attached to or detached from the main line and having its central portion bowed outwardly and its opposite'ends defl'ected laterally thereby to firmly grip the wires and effectually lock the same against accidental displacement.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improvethis class of devices so as to increase their ut'ility, durability andefiiciency as well as'to reduce the' and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this I specification; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clamp or coupling constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same in position on a line wire. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. 'Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the clamp orjcoupling detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved coupling is principally designed for connecting the local wire leading from a telephone, telegraph or other electrical instrument at a subscribers station to the main line wire, and by may of illustration is shown imposition on the line wire 5 and clamping the local wire 6.

of the central ear or lug:

Patented m 30,1907.

'The' clamp is preferably stamped, or otherwise formed .of a single piece of copper or other suitable material andc'onsistsof a body portion 7 having its central portion bowed outwardly and its opposite ends deflectedup'wardly, as shown.

The bowed portion 8 of the clamp is provided with anover-h anging wire retaining ear or lug 9 the free end of which is spaced from the adjacent wallof the body portion to form aseat 10 for the reception ofthe wires 5 and 6, while the opposite'ends of said body'portion are provided with similar ears or lugs 11 disposed in 12 adaptedto receive and grip the wires on each side Themetal forming the body portion is extended vertically-at"the ears 11 to produce terminal projections 1:3 which serve'to guide the main and local wires to their seats when positioning the clamp on the line wire.

By having the wire engaging lugs disposed in staggered relation the latter will exert a clamping action on the wires at the seats 10 and 12 while by reason of the central bowed'portion' 8 the wire will be deflected laterally into engagement with the lugs 11 thus serving to lock the clamp against both lateral and longitudinal movement.

=In'using the device the local wire 6 is arranged parallel'with the line wire 5 and the clamp placed in position on the latter with the wire engaging the central seat 10 and one of the terminal seats 12 after which. the

free end of the clamp is forced downwardly and the wire passed over the adjacent retaining lug 11 into the contiguous seat 12 thus locking the line wire in electrical contact with the local wire at each of the wirereceiving seats.

It will here be observed that the greater the tension on the line wire the greater will be the clamping action exerted on the conductors thereby insuring a good electric contact betweenthe same.

It will also be observed that the smaller or local wire bears against the base of the wire receiving seats while the line wire engages the side walls thereof thus serv- 7 6 0 staggered relation to the central ear 9 and forming seats and hoir'ig stempodor otherwise formed from o. single pieveof metal, may be menuffactured,'nd. so1 d at 'b. emn paiati vjely smell Having thusdescr ibod theil hvontion whei; 'is elaim'ed 1. .A minnip' comprising Y a plate. provided with tern 111ml andJnh-r'nwdiutv lugs disposed in staggered relation and .dvlining wire-receivingseats. and projec tions' extending laterally from tlie pinto at'the terminal lugs to assist In guiding the wire to in: seat. I ".j I i i 2. k-inmp furnwd oi a single piece of metal heving an lll1(l 'l|\\(llill0 portion thereof bowed laterally and provided with an fi er-hanging in}; deflpi ng a wi're-re ceivin g'eeat and its opposite ends deflectediitepaiiy and provided with 54ml ]ax' ingu' Iormlng corresponqixigi' wire :re'cei'viqgj seats, said intermediate anglitermin'ai lqga' being qlepoaed in aizaggm'e'd relation j y In testimony that I; claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. i 1

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